The Federal Government is convening a high-level stakeholder engagement on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway following an inspection tour of the project by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and members of the National Assembly, as part of efforts to address environmental concerns and strengthen flood management along the corridor, it has emerged.

The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, will bring together the Senate and House Committees on Works, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the Lagos State Government, representatives of landlords’ associations and other relevant agencies.

According to a statement by Mohammed Ahmed, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Works, the engagement aims to address environmental concerns, intensify public awareness of environmentally responsible practices and strengthen collaboration on flood management.

The decision followed an on-the-spot assessment of completed and ongoing sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by Umahi, accompanied by lawmakers, Senior Special Assistants to the President, officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment and members of the media.

During the inspection, the Minister dismissed claims that the coastal highway was responsible for flooding in parts of Lagos, insisting that the project was specifically designed to improve drainage and facilitate the evacuation of floodwaters from shoreline communities.

Umahi said the Ministry had already engaged the Lagos State Government on dredging and other environmental mitigation measures to tackle flooding in affected areas.

He attributed the persistent flooding largely to indiscriminate refuse dumping, blocked drainage channels and manholes, and widespread violations of environmental regulations by some residents.

“You can see people blocking manholes and creating hazards to the environment. Many complaints about flooding stem from human activities, not the road project,” the Minister lamented.

He, however, assured residents that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, was implementing environmental remediation measures, including dredging, improved drainage systems and strict enforcement of the approved right-of-way.

He warned that structures obstructing drainage channels or encroaching on approved setbacks would be removed.

According to Umahi, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway incorporates modern engineering features, including culverts, drainage systems and embankments designed to manage stormwater effectively and complement other flood-control interventions across Lagos.

The Minister said the inspection was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu as part of the administration’s commitment to protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure while promoting sustainable development.

To safeguard completed sections of the highway, Umahi directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Olufemi Dare, to ensure full compliance with environmental safety standards.

He also announced the recruitment of 40 personnel, comprising 20 day and 20 night operatives, to monitor the highway, prevent theft and vandalism of road infrastructure and discourage illegal refuse dumping.

The Minister assured residents along the project alignment that environmental concerns raised during the inspection would continue to receive prompt attention through sustained stakeholder engagement and effective mitigation measures.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu, urged residents to take collective responsibility for protecting the environment, stressing the President’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

The Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, said that flooding in Lagos predated the coastal highway project and urged authorities to rely on expert environmental advice to address the challenge.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, commended the Minister’s swift response to the President’s directive, maintaining that flooding in Lagos existed long before the construction of the highway and required proactive, science-based solutions.

The Director of Environmental Impact Assessment at the Federal Ministry of Environment confirmed that an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project was approved before construction commenced, while noting that climate change had intensified the environmental challenges facing Lagos. (The Nation)

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